Posts tagged with "Song of Songs"

Cornerstone Biblical Commentary Volume 6 (Review)

I recently received the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary 9 (=CBC), Volume 6 on Job, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs in the mail from Adam Sabados (you can follow him and Tyndale house on Twitter).   I will give a brief mention of the authors and talk a bit more about the contents mixed in with a few of my own personal impressions.

The Job section was written by August Konkel and the Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs sections by Tremper Longman III.  For information on Konkel see HERE and for Longman see HERE.  Both authors are well credentialed and qualified to be writing on their respective books, though I should state up front that I found the volume a bit uneven as I thought the sections written by Longman were a bit stronger than the one written by Konkel.  No offense intended though, the Job section was still good.

In terms of the contents, I might offer a comparison.  The CBC reminds me of the Expositor’s Bible Commentary with regard to the extent (i.e. length) of comments, but with a different focus that is reflected in the layout.  The comments are focused on communicating the theological message of sections of the Biblical books rather than on smaller details, though there is some focus on detail in the “notes” sections.  Thus, the commentary does not move through verse by verse in the same way that some others do.  This may appeal to some readers and not to others.

The commentary is decidedly evangelical in outlook.  I think an example of this is found in Konkel’s insistence on making sure that he is not ruling out that Job may have been a real person: “The phrase translated ‘There once was a man’ does not imply that Job is a literary creation, as the English expression ‘Once upon a time’ does” (p. 29).  I didn’t get the feel from the introduction that this was a major issue for Konkel as he talks about the timelessness of the story.  And, I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would care about matters like that, but I guess it might be an issue for some potential readers.

With that said, I still found the commentary useful as a non-evangelical.  The authors are familiar with critical scholarship and bring it into the discussion when needed.  There are adequate parenthetical notes and good bibliographies for each book.

Particularly helpful are the introductory sections to each of the Biblical books.  In a day when generalists are very difficult to find, good introductions to Biblical books written by people who are experts on those particular books are always helpful.  The introductions in the CBC certainly fall into this category.

As an overall appraisal, I would recommend the volume to pastors and lay people.  I’m not sure that it would make the cut for students, but perhaps that is too much to expect of one volume.  It would be valuable for those who developing sermons or study lessons in a church setting.

Betting Most Churches Go with Zephaniah

Interesting … today there is a choice of Old Testament lectionary readings between Song of Songs 2.8-14 or Zephaniah 3.14-18.  If most parishes are in any way like mine, I’m guessing they will probably go with Zephaniah.  I think the priests in my parish know enough about Biblical Studies to recognize we do not so much treat Songs as allegory anymore.  Of verses 11-13 of this Songs text, Longman says they “list a number of phenomena associated with spring.  Poetically, it thus invokes a scene of newness, vigor, freshness, joy, expectation — a context for joyous lovemaking.” So, I’m thinking they might skip this concluding verse for this reading in the lectionary  during Advent:

“O my dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the secret recesses of the cliff,
Let me see you,
let me hear your voice,
For your voice is sweet,
and you are lovely.” (NAB)

But hey, you never know.  If you want to capture the attention of daily mass attendees I’m supposing you could accomplish that with this text.

Related posts on why I like having a lectionary:

Responsorial Psalms: One of My Favorite Parts of Being Catholic

Clayboy on Bibliomancy